West Virginia, Ohio & Michigan: A Spring Migration Journey - Otus asio Tours
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West Virginia, Ohio & Michigan: A Spring Migration Journey
May 5-16, 2021
Kirtland's Warbler
Though not generally considered a bucket list birding destination, Appalachia and the Upper
Midwest have much to offer visiting birders. In fact, there is likely no more exciting venue for
one to spend time during spring migration. During the first half of May, migratory songbirds
reach peak numbers in this part of the country, are singing vigorously and are decked out in
their resplendent breeding plumage. In the mountains of West Virginia many southerly
warbler species like Swainson's, Cerulean, Prothonotary, Worm-eating and Kentucky have
already commenced breeding by early May and farther north, species like Kirtland's are
starting to set up territories. In addition to the songbirds available on this tour (up to 35
species of warblers), shorebirds will also be moving through and there are some prime
areas in northwestern Ohio that will excite even the most ardent shorebird aficionados. In
southern Ohio we will visit a site with breeding Upland Sandpipers and many Henslow's
Sparrows; two species infrequently encountered by many birders and at the tour's
conclusion we will spend a day in the deciduous forests of northern Michigan where, in
addition to seeing the critically endangered Kirtland's Warbler, we can also look for species
like Evening Grosbeak, Red Crossbill, Pine Siskin and Purple Finch, adding a bit of boreal
flair to what will already be an impressive bird tally. Other interesting and seldom seen birds
we have excellent chances to see will include Barn Owl, Black Tern, Eastern Whip-poor-will,
Least and American bitterns, Black-billed Cuckoo, Sedge Wren, Yellow-headed Blackbird
and Dickcissel. Beginning in Charleston WV, we will spend time in the mountains and along
the Ohio River in this lightly birded state, before moving north through Ohio and concluding
the tour in Michigan. We will visit two of the the country's premier spring migration sites:
Magee Marsh in Ohio and Tawas Point in Michigan and well as several excellent grassland
and wetland sites during the tour.
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West Virginia, Ohio & Michigan: A Spring Migration Journey
May 5-16, 2021
Daily Itinerary
May 5, Day 1: Arrival and meeting in Charleston WV
The tour begins today with arrivals at our hotel near the airport in Charleston, West Virginia.
Everyone should plan to arrive by 3:00 PM at which time there will be a brief orientation
session. If time allows we will make a late afternoon visit that is within an easy drive of our
hotel. Charleston's proximity to hardwood forests and wetlands along the Kanawha River will
provide us with many options. Night in Charleston.
Trumpeter Swan
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West Virginia, Ohio & Michigan: A Spring Migration Journey
May 5-16, 2021
Daily Itinerary
May 6, Day 2: Hurricane Ridge & New River Gorge
We begin this morning driving south about an hour and a half to Hurricane Ridge, one of
West Virginia's only reliable sites to find the rapidly declining Golden-winged Warbler.
Several pairs breed in the scrubby habitat along the ridge and we should be able to get
good views here. Other nice birds that will be possible include Black-billed Cuckoo,
Common Raven and Scarlet Tanager. The remainder of the day will be spent birding in the
forests near the New River Gorge where the primary target will be the elusive Swainson's
Warbler. Fortunately they are fairly common in low lying rhododendron thickets near the
gorge and we will have plenty of time to coax one into view. Throughout the day, we will
focus primarily on the more southerly species of warblers that will become scarce as we
move north. Examples of these include Louisiana Waterthrush, Worm-eating, Hooded,
Yellow-throated and Cerulean. The forests between Beckley and Charleston are home to a
healtyh breeding population of Cerulean Warblers and are one one of the best aeas in the
country to see this dwindling songbird. Night in Charleston.
May 7, Day 3: McClintic WMA & Greenbottom WMA
McClintic Wildlife Management Area, located about an hour north of Charleston is one of
West Virginia's premier birding destinations. Boasting a delightful mix of hardwood forests
and low lying wetland areas, one can easily spend an entire morning exploring it riches,
especially in early May when breeding birds are in full song and seemingly everywhere. In
addition to having more chances for southern warblers like Hooded, Yellow-throated and
Prothonotary, McClintic also has small populations of Kentucky and Mourning warblers and
finding these two will be high on our list of priorities. McClintic also has some nice wetland
areas where we may find some lingering waterfowl and possibly Common Gallinule. From
there we will bird our way back to Charleston traveling south along the Ohio River where, at
periodic stops, we can check the river and its adjacent wetlands for shorebirds, waterfowl
and other migrants. We will conclude the day at Greenbottom WMA where the cattail
marshes host breeding Least Bittern and Willow Flycatcher as well as migrant Sora and
Virginia Rail, and breeding Warbling Vireos drone monotonously from the scrubby willows.
Night in Charleston.
May 8, Day 4: Kanawha State Forest & Belleville Wetlands
We will spend a few hours this morning at the Kanawha State Forest outside of Charleston in
a final attempt to see any southern warblers we might have missed. The forests here are
home to quite a few breeding Cerulean Warblers and if we have not already had good views,
we should be able to get them here. This is also a good place for the sometimes secretive
Wood Thrush which often feeds in the open near the park office. By mid-morning we will leave
Charleston and begin heading north, stopping near the tiny hamlet ofBaird's Sandpiper
Scott Depot where a pair
of Mississippi Kites has bred for several years. Continuing north, we will
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West Virginia, Ohio & Michigan: A Spring Migration Journey
May 5-16, 2021
Daily Itinerary
stop at a small wetland along the Ohio River near the town of Belleville where a pair of Barn
Owls is fairly reliable. As we move north we will check a variety of wetland sites along the
Ohio River including the locks near Belleville. Many birds follow the river's course as they
journey northward and in early May almost anything is possible on the route we will follow.
Night in Parkersburg WV.
May 9, Day 5: Harrison County OH and Wooster area
We will plan for an early departure in order to arrive by sunrise at a large grassland area in
southern Ohio where several pairs of Upland Sandpipers breed. When conditions are right
this is a fabulous place to see this declining grassland species which often perches on
wooden fenceposts along the roadside. Henslow's Sparrows are surprisingly common here
as well and during a morning visit one can easily record 10-15 of this normally difficult
sparrow. Other nice birds here include Grasshopper Sparrow, Dickcissel (irregular), Northern
Harrier and Black-billed Cuckoo. From there we will continue north to the Amish country
around the small college town of Wooster. If we have not yet had good looks at Cerulean
Warbler we can try again at a forest reserve south of town. After checking in to our hotel in
Wooster and taking a short rest, we will drive to Killibuck Marsh where we will spend the rest
of the day. This extensive wetland is a great place to see Sandhill Cranes, migrant
shorebirds, Common Gallinule and sometimes Least Bittern and King Rail. Night in Wooster.
May 10, Day 6: Wooster to Magee Marsh
About an hour west of Wooster, the Mohican State Forest is a great place to find breeding
warblers with a more northerly affinity and we will plan on spending a couple of hours exploring
its trails before continuing north. Possibilities here will include Magnolia, Blackburnian and
Black-throated Green warblers as well as Winter Wren and Red-breasted Nuthatch. We then
drive north to the shores of Lake Erie where we will visit the Pickerel Wildlife Management
Area where the various impoundments can be rich with shorebirds in May. We will plan for a
late afternoon arrival at Magee Marsh on the shore of Lake Erie where we will have time for a
couple of hours of birding before sunset. Night in Oregon.
May 11-12, Days 7-8: Magee Marsh & Environs
Crane Creek and Magee Marsh are two of the best places to observe spring bird migration in
the eastern United States. The boardwalk trail through the wooded copse at Magee Marsh is
famous for its concentration of colorful warblers....not to mention the hordes of birders that form
their own flocks in search of them. This is a place where it is possible to see some of our
scarcest and most secretive birds. Magee Marsh is probably the most reliable place in the U.S.
to see a Connecticut Warbler and we will hope for blessings from the birding gods during our
visit as even here one stands a less than 50% chance of seeing one on any given day.
Mourning Warblers, also difficult under most circumstances,Blue-winged
are regular hereWarbler
and it is not
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May 5-16, 2021
Daily Itinerary
Chestnut-sided Warbler
unusual to see an American Woodcock shuffling slowly through the leaf litter beneath the
boardwalk. In addition to the spectacle at Magee Marsh, there are several other excellent
birding venues within 45 minutes of our hotel and we will spend time at many of them before
continuing into Michigan. Howard Marsh Metropark is a vast wetland complex with Yellow-
headed Blackbirds, Common Gallinule, Least and American bitterns, several pairs of breeding
Black-necked Stilts and possibilities for migrant shorebirds and waterfowl. At Maumee State
Park the beach area often has a nice variety of gulls, terns and shorebirds and Ottawa NWR
attracts many shorebirds if water levels are appropriate. A bit farther west, we can visit Oak
Openings Metropark, the only place in Ohio to find nesting Lark Sparrows. Nights in Oregon.
May 13-14, Days 9-10: To Tawas Point
The final leg of our journey will take us to Tawas Point, Michigan on the shores of Lake Huron,
another excellent site during spring migration. Tawas Point often has similar concrentrations
of migrants found at Magee Marsh, but with far fewer birders making it a more relaxing and
enjoyable experience. As we drive north to Tawas City, we will stop at the Nayanquing Point
SWA where an observation platform provides panaoramic views of a freshwater marsh with
nesting Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Marsh Wrens, lingering waterfowl and migrant shorebirds.
Upon arrival in Tawas City, we will head directly to Tawas Point State Park, a narrow
peninsula extending into Lake Huron. The combination of the park's geography and scattered
low and scrubby vegetation concentrates migrants and makes them rather easy to see. Many
rare birds Page 5
Otus asio Tours LLC otusasiotours.comWest Virginia, Ohio & Michigan: A Spring Migration Journey
May 5-16, 2021
Daily Itinerary
have been recorded at Tawas Point over the years including tropical vagrants like Fork-tailed
Flycatcher and White-collared Swift. The possibility of something ultra rare coupled with the
large numbers of regularly occuring migrants makes this a really exciting place to spend time
in mid-May. We will also have time to explore the fields and forests around Tawas City. There
are many excellent sites within 90 minutes of our hotel and we will try to visit as many as
possible in the time we have. First on the agenda will be a visit to a jack pine stand about 30
minutes from our hotel where we can see breeding Kirtland's Warblers, which should be
beginning to set up shop on breeding territories. The loud, incessant songs of the males make
them easy to locate and with patience one can usually see them quite well. Nearby fields and
pastures hold good numbers of breeding Bobolinks as well as a few Clay-colored and Vesper
sparrows and occasionally it is possible to encounter Brewer's Blackbirds at the far eastern
edge of their nesting range. We will also travel north to the forests around Mio where northern
species like Blue-headed Vireo, Purple Finch, Evening Grosbeak, Pine Siskin, Ruffed Grouse
and Hermit Thrush will be possible. Nights in Tawas City.
May 15, Day 11:
We will have a final morning to do some additional birding at Tawas Point before beginning the
drive back to Detroit. If time allows we will make another stop at Nayanquing Point on the way
back. Night in Saginaw.
May 16, Day 12: Tour Concludes
The tour will end this morning at Detroit Metropolitan Airport. Participants can schedule flights
home at any time as we will plan to arrive by 7:00 AM.
Vesper Sparrow
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May 5-16, 2021
Tour Information
The tour will be limited to seven participants.
Tour Cost
The cost of the tour is calculated per person from Charleston. The self-driving option without
meals included will be $2995 per person and includes 11 nights lodging in single rooms, all
park entrance fees and guide fees.
Registration & Deposit
In order to reserve a space on the tour, a completed and signed registration form is required
along with a deposit of $500. Registration forms are available on the website at
www.otusasiotours.com
Payments should be mailed to:
Otus asio Tours
900 Hillsborough Road
Chapel Hill NC, 27516
Cancellation Policy & Final Payments
Final payments will be due February 5, 2021 and final invoices will be sent in January.
Given the unusual circumstances that we find ourselves in, there will be no cancellation
penalties for this tour after deposits and final payments are made. All cancellations will be
issued full refunds less any unrecoverable expenses that have been incurred by Otus asio
Tours. Any such expenses on this tour should be minimal.
Transportation
Travel throughout the tour will be in a 15-passenger van.
Weather
Mid-May weather in the Midwest can be extremely variable with possible temperatures
ranging from the mid-30s to the high 80s F. Precipitation is always a possibility at this
season and if it is unusually cold it might even be in the form of snow, though would be light
and ephemeral if it were to occur. It can also be quite windy at times along the shores of the
Great Lakes. Being prepared for a variety of conditions will be important during this tour.
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May 5-16, 2021
Tour Information (cont)
Covid Vaccination Policy
In order to participate on this tour you must be fully vaccinated against the Covid-19 virus.
Physical Requirements
The tour is moderately strenuous, with long days, early departures, and a lot of hiking and
time spent on your feet. On most mornings we will depart before sunrise. When possible we
will take afternoon breaks, but this won't be possible the majority of the time. Driving
distances in Ohio and Michigan are moderately long. We will try to conclude our birding by
late afternoon on most days, but we may be out longer at times. This will depend largely
upon the wishes and desires of the group. There may be a few optional evening excursions
if there is interest in owls and nightjars. The terrain will be mostly level although in West
Virginia there may be some moderate climbing involved. On days we are not traveling it will
be possible to skip some outings and rest at the hotel if someone is so inclined. Generally
speaking, this is not a terribly demanding tour physically, but the long days and time spent
on your feet will be somewhat taxing.
Information
For further information, contact Jan Hansen at 919-259-9423 or otusasiotours@gmail.com.
Lincoln's Sparrow
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